Multiple Personalities

"Lin Yu, try using Light Magic," Shen Jingqi suggested.

Lin Yu nodded, his gaze suddenly becoming resolute. His hands quickly formed the sealing signs as he chanted softly, bright beams of light shooting from his hands like arrows, illuminating this dark valley and aiming directly at the ghostly figures with menacing faces. The ghosts let out piercing screams, their once aggressive postures distorting instantly, and they began to flee chaotically as if they had encountered the most terrifying thing in the world.

"It's effective!" Shen Jingqi felt a rush of joy in his heart, his tense nerves relaxing slightly, but his eyes continued to scan the surroundings vigilantly to prevent other lurking dangers.

They ventured deeper into the valley, treading cautiously with every step. The valley was filled with a chilling aura; the surrounding trees seemed like monstrous claws, rustling in the wind as if whispering unknown secrets. Suddenly, without warning, the ground cracked open into a huge fissure, resembling a yawning mouth eager to swallow them. The group had no time to evade and all cried out in alarm, their bodies uncontrollably tumbling down.

The darkness overwhelmed them like a tide, with wind whooshing past their ears and their companions' cries echoing around. As they finally hit the valley floor, they found themselves in pitch-black surroundings. Struggling to stand, they supported each other, trying to find direction in the darkness. After a while, their eyes adjusted, revealing an enormous maze. The towering walls stood like silent giants, entrapping them.

"This maze looks complicated, we must be cautious," Shen Jingqi stated, his brows knitted tightly together, his gaze revealing a touch of anxiety. He knew this unknown maze was rife with hidden dangers, where any slight misstep could lead to eternal doom.

They navigated the maze with careful steps, worried about triggering traps. Strange symbols and patterns occasionally adorned the walls, hinting at some mysterious secret, yet they remained baffling. Suddenly, they heard a peculiar sound, as if someone was crying—a pitiable and mournful wail echoing eerily in the silent maze, sending chills down their spines.

"Who's crying?" Xu An asked nervously, his voice trembling slightly, his fists clenching involuntarily. His body shook subtly, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Following the source of the sound, their steps quickened, curiosity and fear intertwining within them. Eventually, they discovered a woman in white sitting in a corner, sobbing. Her disheveled hair hung over her shoulders, obscuring her face, only revealing her frail body trembling non-stop.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Shen Jingqi inquired, his eyes fixed on the woman, trying to glean some clues from her. His mind was riddled with questions—why was she in this perilous maze? Did she harbor some unspeakable secret?

The woman lifted her head, revealing a pale face filled with fear. Her lips quivered slightly as she spoke, "I've been trapped here for a long time, please help me escape." Her voice sounded weak and helpless, evoking sympathy.

Shen Jingqi felt a bit skeptical, yet he responded, "Alright, we'll find a way out together. Do you know where the exit is?" He scrutinized her, hoping to uncover any flaw in her expression. In this unknown maze, anyone could be a potential threat; he had to remain vigilant.

The woman shook her head, a hint of despair flashing in her eyes: "I don't know, I only remember there's a mechanism, activating it leads to escape. But I don't know where the mechanism is."

Shen Jingqi furrowed his brows, beginning to search for the mechanism around. His eyes scanned quickly across the walls, leaving no detail unnoticed. Suddenly, he spotted a peculiar pattern on the wall—a pattern resembling an ancient rune, exuding a mysterious aura.

"Could this pattern be related to the mechanism?" Shen Jingqi pondered aloud, pointing at the pattern, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He seemed to see a ray of hope; perhaps this pattern held the key to activating the mechanism.

He reached out to touch the pattern, and as his fingers made contact, the pattern started to flicker, emitting dazzling light. Immediately, the ground vibrated, as if a giant monster was awakening below. A stone door slowly opened, resonating with a deep, echoing sound that stirred up swirling dust.

"We've found it!" Shen Jingqi exclaimed in excitement, a long-lost smile stretching across his face. Satisfaction consumed him, as if he was a step closer to success.

They entered through the stone door, finding a room inside. In the center stood a box radiating mysterious light, its allure capturing their gaze.

"This should be the first treasure," Shen Jingqi remarked, a trace of excitement in his eyes. Slowly, he approached the box, each step filled with anticipation.

He stepped forward, intending to open the box. But as he touched it, the box emitted a strong light, repelling him backward. Shen Jingqi staggered, nearly falling.

"What's happening?" Lin Yu asked in surprise, his eyes widened in confusion. He hurried to Shen Jingqi's side and steadied him.

Shen Jingqi stood, gazing at the box: "It seems this box has a protection mechanism; we need to find a way to open it." His eyes revealed firm determination; he knew this was just a small challenge they would surely overcome.

They searched for clues in the room, examining every corner meticulously. Dust fell off the walls as they touched them, narrating tales of ages past. Eventually, they discovered some inscriptions on the wall: "With a heart of justice, unlock the sealed lock."

"A heart of justice? What's that supposed to mean?" Xu An asked, puzzled, scratching his head, and his eyes were filled with confusion. The inscriptions seemed like a riddle.

Shen Jingqi pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps we need to use the power of justice in our hearts to open this box." His eyes showed a glimmer of understanding; it seemed he had found the way to unlock the box.

He closed his eyes, focusing intently, trying to sense the power of justice within. In that moment, images flooded his mind—of the people they had helped along their journey, of those oppressed by evil forces. A strong sense of justice surged within him, like a blazing fire.

He gathered the power of justice into his hand, then reached out to touch the box once more. This time, the box didn't emit a strong light and instead opened slowly. Inside lay a gemstone shimmering with a brilliant array of colors—the first treasure, the Stone of Justice.

"We did it!" The group cheered, their faces brimming with joyful smiles.

With the Stone of Justice in hand, they exited the maze.

As they emerged from Mist Valley, dusk had begun to settle in.

The sunset's afterglow bathed them, as if draping them in a golden veil.